Yes we've been persuaded that the time has come for this idea, and "North
America needs such an event" (to quote our first entrant). Full regulations
may be found elsewhere,
but here are some basics.

1) This is not a Gold Wing or Harley tour. The 4300 mile
route may include up to 500 miles of gravel, including a 150 mile section
up the Liard Highway toward Yellowknife (this road has improved a lot since
1987, but the gravel that year ripped the fuel line off a new Audi 5000
Quattro). The expected field will likely be dual-sport bikes like the KLR650
and BMW 650GS popular for "Adventure Touring".

2) You don't need (and can't bring) a service crew. We've
long considered the Alcan Rally a 'level playing field', where factory
teams have to rely on the same resources as private ones. We will
provide a dedicated support crew, trailer, and limited parts transport
for the cycle class, but entrants will primarily rely on their own abilities.
We've considered the possibility of providing transport for a spouse or
second team member to allow a cycle to be 'shared', but that would involve
additional expense.

3) Yes, we're legitimate. The Alcan Rally began in 1984
and has now been conducted 14 times (check some of the story links).
If we say there will be an event it's going to happen, and we wouldn't
add this class if it couldn't be done right.

4) Do we know cycles? My personal experience is limited
(our stable includes a Honda XR50, Honda 200 Reflex and Kawasaki ZL600)
but we have good advisors:

Skip Faulkner, a KLR enthusiast from Montana. He's lived in Alaska,
been dual-sport touring for 20+ years (including lots in NW Canada) and
done the Alcan three times on bikes. He's also ridden a Honda XL500
to Yellowknife. (Skip is our first cycle entrant, and the one who
suggested this idea).

John Alkema, a 2000 Alcan Winter Rally entrant who's run cycles in the
Incas (South America) and Pharoahs (Egypt) events.

Jack Fitzgerald, a 1996 & 1998 Alcan entrant who completed rugged a
BMW-sponsored cycle event from Panama to Denver in about 1995.

5) Will we prerun the event with motorcycles? A course survey
was performed in August of 2001. John Alkema, Dyrck McClellan, and
Jerry Hines drove the entire route in a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo, carrying a motorcycle
to prerun gravel sections.

6) Can you rent a cycle rather than ship your own? Yes!
We spent time during course survey with Jamie Gleason, who operates
Arctic
Motorcycle Tours and Rentals in Whitehorse. Jamie has Kawasaki
KLR 650's available for Alcan at a rate of $150/day in Canadian dollars
(about $100 US). UPDATE (March 2002): Jamie will participate
in the 2002 Alcan as our primary cycle support vehicle. Jamie and
Dyrck McClellan will drive Jamie's Chev 4x4 crew cab truck, with a special
8x16 twin axle trailer featuring a 90 gallon fuel tank. As
he's attending anyway, he will deliver and return rental cycles at no cost.